[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] North Korea has intensified its criticism for two consecutive days over the commencement of the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise rehearsals.
On the 11th, Kim Yong-chol, head of the Workers' Party United Front Department, issued a statement through the Korean Central News Agency, saying, "The South Korean authorities have ignored the opportunity for peace and have begun to carry out the madness of war exercises again starting from the 10th," emphasizing, "They will make it clear moment by moment how terribly close they are bringing themselves to a massive security crisis due to their wrong choice."
He warned, "They must fully understand the consequences of throwing away the opportunity to improve inter-Korean relations with their own hands and responding to our goodwill with hostile acts," adding, "We will continue to carry out what we must do without interruption."
He continued, "(The South) has shown on its own that peace and trust are nothing but mere wordplay," and said, "Now that the South Korean authorities have made their clear choice known to the whole world despite the opportunity before them, we too must now make a clearer decision that matches it."
He also stated that the statement issued on the 1st, urging the suspension of the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises under the name of Kim Yo-jong, deputy director of the Party, was "based on the 'authorization of the Party Central Committee' and gave the South Korean authorities a clear chance to choose."
He added, "Since South Korea and the U.S. have unwaveringly chosen confrontation with our country, it is clear that we cannot make any other choice."
On the previous day as well, North Korea issued a critical statement under the name of Kim Yo-jong, deputy director of the Party, coinciding with the start of the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise rehearsals, and did not respond to the regular call through the inter-Korean communication channel in the afternoon.
The inter-Korean communication line, which was abruptly restored on the 27th of last month, faced a communication blackout again after 14 days.
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